148 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [ JuLy, 
was passing over from the 8. W. and 8. This encounters, or is 
crossed by, the course of a condensing cause coming up from the 
N. W. ‘The latter is no doubt a relatively colder and generally 
swifter moving current, somewhat above the first, often perhaps 
partially driving through it. The result is a curious movement 
en echelon: while the lower clouds appear to be coming from the 
S. W., the heavy storm masses as a whole gather first in the 
N. W. and seem to traverse the sky as if coming from that quarter. 
Also the two atmospheric currents in highly contrasted meteorolo- 
gical condition give rise to violent electrical disturbance. In the 
normal course of the monsoon rains, when the vapour-bearing 
current is not interfered with by a differently conditioned cross 
current, the precipitation of water, however heavy the downfall may 
be, is seldom found to be accompanied by any great manifestation 
of thunder and lightning. He, (the President,) was afraid that little 
confidence could be placed upon the correctness of the path attri- 
buted to the lightning flashes. Many causes of deception existed with 
regard to this. And he might make the same remark with regard 
to the behaviour of the clouds spoken of by Mr, James towards 
the east after the bulk of the storm had passed, It was always 
matter of much nicety to determine the true motion of a cloud mass, 
Indeed this could scarcely ever be done with much accuracy except 
for a limited region near the zenith. The apparent angular motion 
of a portion of a surging mass at a low altitude did not afford 
sufficient data for the purpose. It was then almost impossible 
with the eye alone to form even an approximate estimate of the 
geometrical dimensions. With regard to the alleged heating of the 
conductor to the extent of making it luminous, he would suggest by 
way of test for the future that a collar of wax or resin be kept 
continually surrounding the rods of all the principal buildings in 
the town. 
Somewhat later in the evening Mr. Ayrton observed— 
The explanation has just occurred to me of the phenomenon 
observed by Mr. James of sparks appearing to issue from the 
horizontal, but not from the vertical portions of the lightning 
discharges, so if it be not contrary to the rules of the Society, I will 
refer again to that subject. 
